Urine sampling device



1957 J. E. MERCER Y URINE SAMPLING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1955 m T m m llnited States Patent C URINE SAMPLING DEVICE v John E. Mercer, Fort Madison, Iowa Application May 18, 1955, Serial No. 509,187

6 Claims. (Cl. 4-1) This invention relates to urine sampling devices and more particularly to such devices for use by females and it is an object of this invention to provide an improved device of this character.

It is a further object of the invention to porvide an improved device of the character indicated which is sanitary in use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved device of the character indicated in which disposable members may be used for all parts coming into contact with urine. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved device of the character indicated which is sim ple to use, inexpensive to manufacture and'durable.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a toilet bowl and a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top-plan view on a larger scale of the device shown in Figure 1; v

Fig. 3 is a side-elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front-elevational view taken substantially in the direction of arrows 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device similar to that shown in Figure 1, but with the disposable members removed. a 7

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a toilet bowl .10 in which a device 11 according to" the invention is shown in operative position, the device comprising supporting members 12 and 13, a sample cup holder 14 and a deflector holder 15. The supporting members 12 and 13 are adapted to be received on the top rim of the toilet bowl and underneath the toilet seat so as to be held firmly and the device may be positioned so that urine impinging upon a deflector 16 will flow into a sample cup 17 without the need for handling these members other than to place them in and remove them from the device.

The portions 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the device may, according to one form of the invention, comprise a skeletal framework formed of wire or other materials.

The portions 12 and 13 are shown as being of triangular shape in order to provide members having sufficient area to support the device without danger of spilling after a sample has been taken and also to enable the device to be used upon toilet bowls of different sizes. Other shapes for members 12 and 13 may be used.

Depending downwardly and angularly slightly rearwardly from supporting members 12 and 13 are two arms 18 and 19, respectively, to which adjacent the lower end thereof is attached the substantially circular sample cup holder 14. Extending downwardly from arms 18 and 19 below the points of attachment with sample cup holder 14 is a U-shaped or stirrup member 21 having side members 22 and 23 and a bottom member 24. The stirrup 2,801,424 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 member 21 with its sides and bottom portion, together with ring-like member 14, assure that a sample cup will be firmly and securely held. The supporting members 12 and 13, the arms 18 and 19 and the stirrup member 21 may be formed of a single piece of wire bent substantially to the configuration shown with the ends of the wire being soldered to the remaining portion thereof at points 25 and 26 for purposes of rigidity.

Extending upwardly at an angle from sample cup holder 14 is deflector holder 15 which also, according to one form of the invention, may conveniently be formed of a single piece of wire, for example, bent to the configuration shown. As shown, the deflector holder member may comprise two side arms 27 and 28 and a transverse arcuate member 29, the ends of members 27 and 28 being attached to arms 18 and 19, respectively, and to circular member 14 by soldering or welding, for example, at points 30 and 31.

Intermediate the points of attachment 30 and 31 and the arcuate member 29, there is a further transverse arcuate supporting member 32. The curvature of member 32 is substantially the same as that of member 29 and its ends extend beyond the arms 27 and 28, as shown, the member 32 being attached to arms 27 and 28 by any suitable means, for example by soldering or welding. The very' ends of member 32 are curved inwardly, as shown, to form gripping members, or lips, 33 and 34.

A disposable deflector member 16, such, for example, as one made of suitable paper and formed in any suitable shape, such, for example, as the trapezoidal shape illustrated, may be disposed against the deflector holder 15, as shown. The lips 33 and 34 engage the edges of the deflector member 16 and hold it in a slightly arcuate form with the lower end of deflector 16 disposed within the upper portion of the sample cup 17, the underneath side of the deflector member resting against the arcuate mem: bers 29 and 32.

The sample cup 17 may also be formed of any suitable material such as paper whereby itmay be disposed of after use. The sample cup is held within the ring-like member 14 and may rest thereon, in the case of cups having an upper rim portion 35. In other cases, such as when the cup is slightly smaller than the ring member 14, the cup will still rest on the transverse member 24 'of the stirrup 21 and thereby will beheld positively during" use of the device.

The ring member 14 is attached substantially at right angles to the arms 18 and 19 and since these arms project angularly, as may be seen in Fig. 3, the ring member 14 tilts downwardly toward the left, as seen in this same figure. The ring member 14 at the front thereof or the left side, as seen in Fig. 3, has a portion removed to provide an interruption 36 for sanitation purposes. The atitude of the device during use is as shown in Fig. 3 and the tilt of the ring member 14 which causes the sample cup 17 to be tilted also enables any excess urine to run oif over the rim of the sample cup at the interrupted portion 36 without coming into contact with the sample cup holder 14. Additional sanitation is thus achieved.

The device, when made as a skeletal frame of wire, is inexpensive and may be used many times without becoming contaminated by virtue of the use of the disposable sample cup and disposable deflector member. Other materials, such for example, as the various plastics having sufiicient rigidity may, of course, be used.

If desired, instead of utilizing disposable materials for the sample cup 17 and the deflector 16, metal members of the configuration shown may be used, this, however, requiring sterilizing of the device after each use.

The device is simple, may be sued by anyone with a 3, minimum of instructions and it reduces fear of contamination to a minimum.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. I

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A device to be used in connection with toilets for obtaining a urine sample from the user comprising a skeletal framework having a support portion to be disposed on the top rim of a toilet bowl and beneath the toilet seat, a sample cup holder supported by said support portion to be disposed inside of the toilet bowl and a deflector holder attached to said skeletal framework extending upwardly from and at an angle to said cup holder.

2. A device to be used in connection with toilets for obtaining a urine sample from the user comprising a skeletal framework having support portions to be disposed on the top rim of a toilet and beneath the toilet seat, arms depending from said support portions, a sample cup holder attached to said arms to be disposed inside of the toilet bowl at a relatively small angle with the horizontal, and a deflector holder attached to said skeletal framework extending upwardly from and at an angle to said cup holder whereby urine impinging on a deflector in said deflector holder will run into a sample cup in said sample cup holder.

, 3. A device to be used in connection with toilets for obtaining a urine sample from the user comprising a skeletal framework having support portions to be disposed on the top rim of a toilet and beneath the toilet seat, arms depending from said support portions, a sample cup holder including a peripheral member for supporting a sample cup attached to said arms to be disposed inside of the toilet bowl, said peripheral member being disposed at a small angle with the horizontal whereby excess urine in a sample cup will spill out of one side thereof, and a deflector holder attached to said skeletal framework ex tending upwardly from and at an angle to said peripheral member whereby urine impinging on a deflector in said deflector holder will run into a sample cup in said sample cup holder.

4. A device to be used in connection with toilets for obtaining a urine sample from the user comprising a skeletal framework having support portions to be disposed on the top rim of a toilet and beneath the toilet seat, arms depending from said support portions, a sample cup holder including a peripheral member for supporting a sample cup attached to said arms to be disposed inside of the toilet bowl, said peripheral member being disposed at a small angle with the horizontal whereby excess urine in a sample cup will spill out of one side thereof, and a deflector holder attached to said skeletal framework extending upwardly from and at an angle to said peripheral member whereby urine impinging on a deflector in said deflector holder will run into a sample cup in said sample cup holder, said deflector holder including an arcuate backing member having gripping members at each of its ends.

5. A device to be used in connection with toilets for obtaining a urine sample from the user comprising a skeletal framework having support portions to be disposed on the top rim of a toilet and beneath the toilet seat, said support-portions being of substantial area whereby said device may be used with bowls of different sizes, arms depending from said support portions, a sample cup holder including a peripheral member for supporting a sample .cup attached'to said arms to be disposed inside of the toilet bowl, said peripheral member being disposed at a small angle with the horizontal whereby excess urine in a sample cup will spill out of one side thereof, and a deflector holder attached to said skeletal framework extending upwardly from and at an angle to said peripheral member whereby urine impinging on a deflector in said deflector holder will run into a sample cup in said sample cup holder.

6. A device to be used in connection with toilets for obtaining a urine sample from the user comprising a skeletal framework having support portions to be disposed on the toprim of a toilet and beneath the toilet seat, arms depending from said support portions, a sample cup held by said arms to be disposed inside of the toilet bowl at a relatively small angle with the horizontal, and a deflector attached to said skeletal framework extending upwardly from and at an angle to said cup holder whereby urine impringing thereon will run into said sample cup.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,674 McCandless July 19, 1932 2,446,160 Muller July 27, 1948 2,585,771 Harris Feb. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 408,607 Great Britain Apr. 10, 1934 

